Waldorf School of Princeton welcomes Class of 2025

PRINCETON — Waldorf School of Princeton celebrated the start of its academic year September 6 with its grade school opening day assembly, held in Hagens Hall. 12 boys and girls began their grade school journey this year, which in Waldorf schools follows the same teacher for up to eight years.

The highlight of the morning, as always, was the Flower Ceremony, in which the first graders are introduced one by one to their new teacher, and as a class to the school community. It is a visually symbolic tradition that is unique to Waldorf schools all over the world; passing under an arbor, each child is ushered by an early childhood teacher and met by an eighth grader, who greets him or her and presents a small bouquet of flowers. The first grader then greets the new class teacher with a handshake. It is the child's official welcome to the grade school.

First grade class teacher Susan Eggers has been teaching Eurythmy, an artistic form of movement unique to Waldorf Education, at the Waldorf School of Princeton for seven years. Prior to that, Ms. Eggers was a class teacher at the Four Winds Waldorf School in the suburbs of Chicago. Ms. Eggers received her bachelor's degree in education from Valparaiso University in Indiana, and a master's degree in special education from Northeastern Illinois University.

Waldorf School of Princeton is one of more than 1,000 Waldorf schools worldwide and is the only such school in New Jersey. Visit www.princetonwaldorf.org to learn more.